Decluttering and organising your wardrobe is one of the most satisfying tasks. And now is the perfect time to pack away your winter wardrobe and add your summer favourites back in.
Here are our top tips for helping you keep your wardrobe spring clean as stress-free as possible and how to create a simplified Spring and Summer wardrobe that you can enjoy every morning.
Before you start, make sure you allocate time. Wardrobes always take longer than you think to go through, so it's best to set aside a half-day or full day (maybe or even longer depending on its organisation state) to declutter and organise your wardrobe. It's easier to get it all done in one go rather than starting and stopping.
START AFRESH
Work your way through your wardrobe - hanging space, drawer space, shelf space etc. - and pull EVERYTHING out of each space. Working through one space at a time is much less overwhelming than pulling your entire wardrobe out in one go.
Give each space a clean whilst it's empty. Before you put back your clothes, give each space a good dust and wipe over.
seasonal switch and edit
Create labelled areas or containers for your clutter categories:
- OUT OF SEASON (Winter)
- DONATE
- SELL
- TO ACTION (Needs attention /repair/cleaning)
Put the items that you won't wear through the Spring and Summer months in your OUT OF SEASON pile
Put items that you no longer love or won't wear again in your SELL or DONATE pile.
There's no point in having chunky winter jumpers, coats or boots in your wardrobe all summer, next to your summer dresses, when you're not going to wear them. They are cluttering up valuable daily wardrobe and headspace.
Once you've worked your way through every space in your wardrobe;
▫️Make a note of anything that needs to be repaired and organise to get this done as soon as you can.
▫️Bag up the donate/charity items and drop them off as soon as possible.
▫️Put your 'SELL' items to one side and plan some time to list your items.
If there are winter items that you really feel are worth selling, it may be best to collect them together, pop them in a separate labelled bag and put them with your OUT OF SEASON clothes to try and sell at the beginning of next season. The demand and price for winter clothes will be low in Summer.
▫️Pack away your 'OUT OF SEASON' items in a sealed box or bags, and make sure you label them with the contents. Store them away, ready for a seasonal switch bag in the Autumn/Winter.
I understand that not everyone has room to store away clothing and accessories, but if you can, keeping out only what you wear in the next six months in your everyday space really does make a difference to how you feel about your wardrobe. It's also a great way of having a natural detox, both when you pack and unpack them.
When it comes back round to next season, and you bring things back out again, take the time to intentionally go through them and try them on. Our tastes change and our bodies change. You might wonder what on earth you were thinking when you brought that jacket in the sale last year!
Because you haven't seen seasonal items for a while, it helps your wardrobe feel new and refreshed, reducing the want to buy new clothes.
A regular and careful edit is a great way to remind yourself what you have and be more intentional about the things that you own.
ORGANISE
Now the fun part of organising and putting everything in its place!
It's important to have an organisation strategy for your wardrobe. We suggest organising by type and then by colour. E.G. Tops, Trousers, Skirts, Dresses, Jackets and Coats.
Work through your hanging space and then drawer and shelf spaces. The goal is to have as much of your wardrobe as visible as possible, so try and hang as much as you can.
Some items may need to be folded to keep them in top condition (such as knitwear if you don't have the special hangers). If you're short on hanging space, casual t-shirts, tops, and denim can be folded and placed in a dedicated drawer or shelf space.
Pre-plan some Summer outfits. While you are familiar with every piece in your wardrobe, take the time to think and plan out a few outfits, so you have some go-to's.
FILL IN YOUR GAPS
You may quickly notice that some of your essentials might be missing or need replacing, such as white T-Shirts, a staple maxi skirt or a pair of shorts. Your essentials are those classics, simple and timeless basics in your wardrobe that can be worn over and over again, so note down anything that is missing.
Think neutral, and make sure that these pieces compliment your summer wardrobe. The key thing here is to understand what you have and what you actually need. Take your time and invest in these key pieces over the summer. Focus on fabric, cut and quality to ensure that these items last for more than one season.
You did it! Summer Wardrobe Switch and edit complete. Now make a promise to yourself to keep it organised. You can do it! 😊
SAVE FOR LATER
If you would like some hands-on help to declutter and organise your wardrobe, please get in touch.